Southwest Application Window?

ZapBrannigan said:
That is assuming that every pilot buys the type. There are those of us who were typed as line pilots on the airplane. I kinda wish they would make the requirement a 737 type rating plus 1000 hours in type. ;-)

Maybe i'd have a shot.
Click to expand...
You've been in the corporate world too long...you are talking an airline here....:D
 
Hacker, I got my 737 rating fro 4995. It was being taught by off duty UAL IP's using UAL sims. It was by no means a give me type and they didn't do any hand holding. You needed to show up and know your stuff. There was a short review and oral exam on day one plus a written. Then next day started the sims.

What still baffles me that a 737 rating is dirt cheap while a G-V rating is 20K+

I was just on a SWA jumpseat and the crews were saying they don't plan on hiring until the AirTran integration is complete.
 
NJA_Capt said:
PS: I think the SWA requirement is a sham and I'd never do it. I'm still amazed so many people have taken the bait. If enough people said "no"...the requirement would go away.
Click to expand...

In a perfect world, I'd agree with you. However, look at first and second year pay at SWA compared to other 737 operators:

Southwest: $56/$94
American: $35/$77
US Airways: $25/$57
United/Continent: $31/$57


To be fair, Delta does come close at $56/$86.

I'm not saying that it necessarily justifies the practice, but there is a substantial discrepancy between first year pay at SWA versus other carriers. Again, I'm not saying that it should be this way... just making an observation.
 
From a 135 perspective, the whole thing is ludicrous. If you're not typed, you get paid less and they type you. Generally speaking, you won't get hired if you're not typed. Maybe it's apples and oranges, but I can say that from personal experience, I've never met an unhappy SWA pilot, not one. I've met more than one unhappy pilot from all the "legacy"s. I don't have the money to run off and get a 737 type, but I'd do it in a heartbeat if I thought it'd get me a job at Southwest. Guess I'm a , too.
 
Their website says they require a class 1 medical. I carry a class 1 that has since lapsed to a class 2. (all that is required for my job under part 91).

Should I get a new medical prior to applying, or can that wait until (if) I get offered an interview?
 
Seriously, Zap, you ask why they don't ask for TIT, and then you ask if it is okay to not have the required certificates? If you want to be considered, go get a class 1 medical...

Sorry if it came out as tough love, but seriously...you've been around the block. Do what is required to be considered.
 
True. I'm just being cheap. If I can wait until mine is due my current employer will reimburse me for renewing it. Off cycle it'll be on me.

And be fair, I didn't ask why they don't require TIT. I said it would eliminate a lot of competition for me if they did. I meant it tongue-in-cheek. My wife is right. I should definitely not quit flying and become a stand-up comic.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
True. I'm just being cheap. If I can wait until mine is due my current employer will reimburse me for renewing it. Off cycle it'll be on me.

And be fair, I didn't ask why they don't require TIT. I said it would eliminate a lot of competition for me if they did. I meant it tongue-in-cheek. My wife is right. I should definitely not quit flying and become a stand-up comic.
Click to expand...

A cheap airline pilot? Do they even exist?
 
No problem. I did understand the TIT being tongue in cheek, but did not understand if you were serious about the medical, so I was giving you a little bit of grief over it. Sorry for dishing out a little too much over nothing!!
 
For the heck of it, I went and looked at the requirement. It says they require a current first class medical. IMO Zap's got no choice but to pay up. :)
 
kellwolf said:
For the heck of it, I went and looked at the requirement. It says they require a current first class medical. IMO Zap's got no choice but to pay up. :)
Click to expand...

Again, it's deductible as a job search expense as long as one itemizes.
 
HRDiva said:
Again, it's deductible as a job search expense as long as one itemizes.
Click to expand...


True. Then again, my company doesn't reimburse me for mine, but it's still deductible since it's required for the job.

The tricky question is....is the 737 type rating deductible as a job search expense?
 
I just remembered that a first class is now good for one year if you're under 40!! FAR 61.23(d)

So I guess I can breathe easy and stick with plan "A". No big hurry to schedule a fresh medical.

Off topic to answer FLFlyer, my company doesn't reimburse me for the medical -- they pay for it. Just put it on the corporate card and submit an expense report. They also pay for CFI renewals, headset repairs... pretty much any expense related to doing my job and retaining my professional qualifications.
 
OK, please speak in general terms (without getting into anyone's current employment or current employer - this is the general section and google cacheable) -

What is the relative advantage of moving from a good and stable corporate job to SWA? You would potentially take a hit financially in the first year, perhaps two and as a new guy you'd not get your choice of trips, days off, etc. So, what would be the relative advantage of SWA? Money down the road, QOL down the road, some combination of both? If you work for the worlds "largest" in a given industry sector, and one of the "largest" of any kind of company in the world, are you more "stable" at an airline (no matter how good) or are you more stable at the "world's largest" whatever it is?

Just asking what kind of thought goes into that matrix. Are there some airlines you would jump for (SWA, FedEx, UPS) but some you would not (USAir, AA, JetBlue)? How would your personal rankings work?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top